Workers' Compensation (WC) FAQs

Workers’ Compensation is insurance that provides employees injured on the job with wage reimbursement and payments for medical care related to the injury.

Any work-related injury/illness, including needle sticks or exposures, must be reported to your supervisor. This includes any injury occurring on University premises, while on University assignment off University premises, and any illness which you believe may have been caused by your University work.

After verbally reporting the incident to your supervisor, the employee incident report form (SMH115) must be completed immediately online. In the event of a life-threatening situation on-premises, Public Safety should be contacted at x13 from any campus phone or dial (585) 275-3333.

If medical treatment is needed you must contact Leave Administration at (585) 275-5978 or (585) 276-5131. They will provide updated information to our Third Party Administrator (TPA) so a claim number can be issued. A new Incident Report does not need to be completed.

Please note: If your injury is greater than 8 weeks old and you have not sought treatment, you may have difficulty finding a provider willing to accept you as a patient.

You may see any health care provider that accepts Workers’ Compensation cases. View a partial list of providers in this PDF.

Yes, the treating physician will ask for the claim number, insurance company name, address, and phone number.

You may contact Leave Administration at (585) 275-5978 or (585) 276-5131.

Once a claim number is issued, the bills associated with this claim will be sent to the Third Party Administrator (TPA) for processing and payment; therefore, it is important that you notify Leave Administration if medical treatment is required.

Notify Leave Administration at (585) 275-5978 or (585) 276-5131, and notify your TPA claims adjuster at (800) 635-1550.

Under New York State regulations, an absence is not a disability until the absence reaches the 8th calendar day. Therefore, the first week of absence is covered by your own time (PTO, Sick, Vacation). If you have supplemental time available, Leave Administration will replace the first week with supplemental time once the claim is approved.

Beginning on the 8th calendar day, employees who lose time from work associated with a work-related injury/illness are eligible to receive up to 2/3 of employee’s average weekly wages based on 52 weeks of payroll immediately preceding the date of injury up to a maximum weekly benefit (NYSAWW*). These weekly benefits are determined by New York State Workers’ Compensation Board and are subject to degree of disability, cap, and other modifications.

Payment for lost time beginning on the 8th calendar day will be issued by the TPA. You may want to use your personal time (supplemental, PTO, Vacation) to supplement the other 1/3 not paid by Workers’ Compensation.

*NYSAWW is the New York State Average Weekly Wage which is the average weekly wage of the state of New York for the previous calendar year as reported by the Commissioner of Labor to the Superintendent of Insurance on March 31 of each year.

Generally, you should receive payment within three weeks, as long as all medical documentation to support the claim has been received by TPA.

Yes, your benefits will continue and you will need to pay your normal share of premiums (separate billing may apply). It is important to note that vacation does not accrue and holiday pay is not issued while you are out on Workers’ Compensation.

If you are returning to work full duty, contact your supervisor and have your physician fax the return to work release to Leave Administration at (585) 235-6703.

If you are returning with physical restrictions or on a reduced-hour schedule, you must contact the Return to Work Manager at (585) 276-5136, as well as your supervisor. The Return to Work Manager will work with you, your supervisor, and your medical provider (if necessary) to ensure a safe return to work.

Yes, if you require restrictions or additional lost time you must provide medical updates. These medical updates/notes need to be faxed to the Leave Administration Workers’ Comp team at (585) 235-6703 after each medical visit.

According to NYS Workers’ Compensation Board, your own time must be used (PTO, Sick, Vacation). If proof of visit is submitted to Leave Administration, supplemental time maybe used if applicable.

According to NYS Workers’ Compensation Board, your own time (PTO, Sick, Vacation) must be used.